Rio de Janeiro: Intro (Updated on 24 October 2025)

We had a mixed visit to Rio.

• Rio de Janeiro is one of the top destinations for the whole continent of South America. We waited this long to visit because I was particularly concerned about crime; therefore, we were suitably cautious. In the end, we did not see anything particularly suspicious that we hadn't encountered somewhere else in the world. Yes, we walked through some of the poorer bairros, like Gamboa (below); no hassles, everyone seemed to be working, or headed somewhere.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The weather was bad. We had a lot of clouds, fog, and rain. We scraped our plans to hike to various viewpoints. On the sunniest day we took a ride-hail to the Mirante Dona Marta. As popular as the viewpoint is, there was a three-toed sloth right above the path (video 2nd below or click here), and spectacular views to Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf,and more. We were very satisfied.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The 2016 Summer Olympic Games were held in Rio and the city has successfully maintained some of its venues. We circumnavigated the Rowing venue at Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas (1st and 2nd below), had a view of the Olympic Stadium from Mirante Dona Marta (3rd below), and walked along the monumental mural "Etnias" (Ethnicities) by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra (4th below).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• There is a lot of beauty in Rio. However, after a week, the assaults of urine smell were too frequent for me, even in Copacabana and Ipanema. Nothing turns me off a city more than the smell of urine in the streets. It epitomized the lack of everything I hold dear; dignity, public health, social services....

Rio might have come a long way. It still has a long way to go.